Posts from ‘Your Questions Answered’
This Week’s Q&A
Q: What factors need to be considered with an acute spinal cord injury (SCI)?
A: For acute spinal cord trauma, stabilization is the first priority. After an injury, according to Jack de la Torre MD PhD, there are biochemical, metabolic and physiological issues that arise such as reduced blood flow to the spinal column, the formation of free radicals, sodium channel activation, inflammation and energy substrate depletion…
Q: Is there any recent research that supports the idea of brain plasticity?
A: There have been a handful of studies over the last decade that can be considered to support the idea of brain plasticity, the brain’s ability reorganize in response to input, a very useful growth mechanism that can benefit traumatic brain injury (TBI) recovery. Here is one of the most recent areas of research:
Q: What spinal cord injuries occur most in sports?
A: There are two types of spinal cord related injuries that occur most frequently in sports…
Q: What are the most common results of a spinal cord injury?
A: Depending on the particular injury sustained, there are a wide variety of primary and secondary complications that can result from a spinal cord injury…
Q: What was the inspiration for the Paralympics?
A: Originally the Paralympics were created as a rehabilitation program for British war veterans who had spinal injuries. In 1948 Sir Ludwig Guttman, a neurologist at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury, added sports to help his patients rehabilitate…
Q: Since my spinal cord injury, I have been living with chronic pain and my doctors have been unable to figure out what’s causing it. Why is it so hard to pinpoint…
Q: Since my brain injury, I have memory loss and difficulty concentrating. Is there anything I can do to improve this?
A: There was a time when doctors assumed that the brain, once damaged, couldn’t regain any of it’s previous functions, but thankfully we have progressed beyond that limited evaluation.
Q: What can you do immediately after an accident to minimize the long-term effects from a spinal cord injury (SCI)?
A: While there is still no way to completely reverse the damage done by a SCI, there are certain steps you can take to prevent further damage and to minimize the long-term effects…
Q: Where can I find clothing and accessories that work with my disability?
A: There are a multitude of resources for “adaptive” clothes and home health products. Whether you are trying to obtain weather proofing for wheelchair outings or you need affordable Velcro mittens, there is a place that can provide what you need. Here are some good resources:
Q: What should you look for when considering a SCI Rehabilitation Program?
A: There are a wide variety of rehabilitation programs, so finding the right one for your situation requires a comparison of your specific needs and what the center can offer you. Here are some useful questions to ask during your search:
Are the beds for people with SCI in the same area of the facility? Are there people in the SCI program of the same age and sex as the person considering admission?
Do the people in the SCI program have similar levels and kinds of spinal cord injury e.g., quadriplegia, paraplegia, incomplete and complete?
What is the average number of people admitted annually to the SCI program? (program staff should treat people with SCI on a regular basis to acquire and maintain expertise.)
Is the SCI program accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) or theJoint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)? Has it been designated as a Model Spinal Cord Injury Center by the National
Institute of Disability Research and Rehabilitation (NIDRR)? Click here for a current list of Model spinal cord injury centers)
Is the SCI program part of a SCI rehabilitation system operated by the state?
Are there treatment specialists in the SCI program who speak the primary language of the individual seeking treatment?
Will the treatment team develop a rehabilitation plan with both short and long term goals?
Will an experienced case manager be assigned to help family members obtain medical payments and other benefits from public and private insurance? Will a team member be assigned to coordinate treatment and act as a contact for staff and family members?
Staffing/Rehabilitation Program Elements
Is the physician in charge a Physiatrist? If not, what credentials does he/she have? How long has the physician in charge been directing programs specializing in SCI? Is there physician coverage seven days a week? Twenty-four hours a day?
Do the regular nursing staff and other specialists responsible for providing treatment in the SCI program have specific training in treating SCI? Is the nursing staff employed by the hospital or employed through an outside agency?
Does the program ensure the availability of rehabilitation nursing and respiratory care on a twenty-four hour basis?
Are there consultants available at the facility or nearby medical centers? These should include neurosurgery, neurology, urology, orthopedics, plastic surgery, neuropsychology, internal medicine, gynecology, speech pathology, pulmonary medicine, general surgery and psychiatry.
How often and for how long each day will participants get treatment by specialists such as occupational and physical therapists? Treatment should be no less then three hours per day.
Are other specialties such as driver education, rehabilitation engineering, chaplaincy, and therapeutic recreation available if needed?
Are activities planned for SCI program participants on weekends and evenings?
How much time is spent teaching SCI program participants and their families about sexuality, bowel and bladder care, skin care and other essential self-care activities?
Does the SCI program offer training in the management and hiring of personal care assistants? If so, how much time is spent by staff on this topic?
Questions have been taken from Spinal Cord Injury Resource Center, a site created and maintained by a SCI patient who has drawn the previous questions from his own experience.
